|
|
|
Lunatics Without Skateboards started in 1988 when bandmembers Manfred van Zadelhoff (bass) and John Frijn (leadvocals) met eachother through 'demotrading'. Demotrading was a way of collecting music by trading tapes between fanatical metalmusic lovers.
Before they met, Manfred played in Whiplash and John sang in the Stray Bullets. After a while both of them got the idea to start a speedmetalband since that was their most favourite music. This was the first step in founding 'Lunatics Without Skateboards'. Former Whiplash guitarplayer Dennis and former Stray bullets drummer Donovan and guitarplayer Joost joined the band. At that time Anthrax was a very popular band. As you probably know they wore short pants and liked skateboarding and a lot of bands followed their example. An acquaintance came up with the name Lunatics without Skateboards as an anti-statement. Later it was changed into LWS, but because there was also a German band called LWS, they added the word incorporated and got known as LWS inc.
After some practice sessions the first songs were born and the band made plans to record a demo, which was later recorded in a bulbshed somewhere around Andijk (in the north of the Netherlands). They recorded five songs, including the numbers 'Mental Weakness' and 'LWS', in two days on an 8-track recorder. The demo was called 'Death an Die Demo', because in every number at least one time the word death and/or die appeared. After recording this demo LWS began to play live in the Netherlands and Belgium. The first concert the demo was available was at Queensday (30th of April) in the legendary 'Scum-club' in Katwijk, a lot of demo's were sold that day!
Also Dutch National Radio discovered LWS inc. At that time 'Vara's Vuurwerk' was one of the few radioprograms playing metalmusic. The presenter of this radioprogramme played LWS inc. a lot and the song 'Lunatics without Skateboards' was one of his favourite numbers. A lot of concerts started; as a supportact for foreign bands (Celtic Frost, Holy Moses, Cyclone, Blessed Death) and together with all Dutch metalbands from the metalscene at that time (Mandator, Pestilence, Silenxce, Brutal Obscenity, Deafen, Defender, Paralysis). They played all in the Netherlands, Belgium and Luxemburg and got wellknown all around the Benelux.
Recordcompany AAARRG from Germany heard about the band and contracted LWS Inc. for two records. This due to the fact that a friend of the band had sent a demo to the company and they were interested right away. After a few meetings the band signed the contract in spring 1989 and LWS started recording the record 'Welcome to the Asylum', refering to the name Lunatics. Under guidance of Jorg Stegert and Ralph Hubert at the 'Phoenix Studios' in Bochum, Germany the band recorded in three to four weeks all songs. The situation was ideal for the band, there was an appartment above the studios and an Italian restaurant as well as a supermarket around the corner. The record was received very well by magazines in Holland, Belgium and Germany and today the CD is a collector's item, since there were only made so little of them.
After finishing recording the record the bookingagency Background Agency offered the band a tour through the Benelux. The former owner of the agency was Rob van Trommelen, now working for Mojo International. We toured in short time through Holland and Belgium. The realease of the album “Welcome tot the Asylum” was in Donkey Shot, the place where the band practiced and wrote new songs. Along with the release of the album the band called Silenxce supported. Silenxce was one of the bands with who LWS inc. played a lot and the bandmembers became good friends, also the band was one of the best bands from Holland of that time.
After a year of playing every weekend and sometimes in between weekends the first difficulties began for LWS inc. Guitar player Dennis had to join the army and had to be replaced. Bassplayer Manfred had to choose between a well payed job and the future of an insecure life as a musician, he chose for his job. Unfortunately the band died a slow and quiet death. After Manfred left the band LWS Inc. recorded another demo containing two of his songs. The demo is called 'The Second Coming'. Later the band also recorded another CD, but at that time the only original bandmember was leadsinger John. The music they made on the last record was no longer speedmetal from earlier days, but changed into another kind of music.
|
|
